Roch Kubatko

Bergesen needs to be brilliant

March 25, 2011, 7:21am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Is this a big start for Brad Bergesen? Is Florida full of palm trees, geckos and strip malls? Bergesen hasn't been named to the starting rotation. We're only sure that Jeremy Guthrie is pitching in the April 1 opener and Brian Matusz will take the ball on the following night. Manager Buck Showalter hasn't officially named Jake Arrieta as the No. 4 starter, but he's come close enough that we know it's going to happen. We can read him like a book, which isn't nearly...

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Today's lineup (and Twins)

March 25, 2011, 5:41am

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - I'm back at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers for today's game against the Twins. This is my last trip here in 2011. I'm wiping away the tears and passing along today's lineup. For the Orioles: Robert Andino 2B Felix Pie LF Adam Jones CF Matt Wieters DH Jake Fox C Nolan Reimold RF Brendan Harris 1B Nick Green 3B Cesar Izturis SS Brad Bergesen RHP Jim Johnson and Clay Rapada also are scheduled to pitch. You've probably noticed that most of the regulars are back at...

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Final thoughts on O's 11-7 victory

March 24, 2011, 6:27pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Pirates scored the last two runs on Josh Rodriguez's homer off left-hander Mark Hendrickson in the ninth inning. Too little, too late. Orioles 11, Pirates 7. The Orioles didn't announce any more cuts tonight, but you can probably figure out which veterans have been informed that they're not going to make the team. Here are some postgame comments from manager Buck Showalter: On Jake Arrieta: "I was real happy with his tempo and his times to the plate from the...

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Arrieta on his outing (updated)

March 24, 2011, 5:47pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta said he got "in a zone" after the first inning today after starting out "real sloppy." "I threw a lot of good pitches to (Andrew) McCutchen," he said. "I missed the PFP there. That's the thing I'm most upset about because I proud myself on that kind of stuff. Then, I just left a couple of pitches up. (Lyle) Overbay drove the ball to left, the same thing to (Neil) Walker. I just couldn't execute pitches there. I've got to get the ball inside more to a...

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Arrieta done after 5 1/3 (updated twice)

March 24, 2011, 5:06pm

Orioles

Arrieta done after 5 1/3 (updated twice)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta has turned in the longest outing by an Orioles starter this spring against major league competition. And yes, the Pirates count. Arrieta appeared to run out of gas after retiring 14 of 15 batters. Neil Walker hit his second home run off Arrieta, and the next two batters walked. Arrieta threw 91 pitches, including 54 for strikes. Chris Jakabauskas replaced Arrieta and stranded two runners. Arrieta is charged with four runs and five hits, with three walks and...

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A few updates (and more)

March 24, 2011, 4:39pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jake Arrieta has retired 13 of the last 14 batters, and the Orioles have given him a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning. Instant update: J.J. Hardy singled off reliever Evan Meek to increase the lead to 6-3. We're still in the fifth. Arrieta has blanked the Pirates on one hit since the first inning. He's thrown 70 pitches, 45 for strikes. See what happens when I challenge the young arms to produce better results? Felix Pie broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning with his first home...

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Young starters need to crank it up (updated)

March 24, 2011, 3:34pm

Orioles

Young starters need to crank it up (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - We learned today that Jeremy Guthrie will start the April 1 opener and Brian Matusz will take the ball the following night. We also received a strong hint that Jake Arrieta will get the call for the first home game, making him the No. 4 starter. The rotation is coming into focus, but the young starters need to give a clearer indication that they're ready for the season and the responsibilities that go with it. Arrieta gave up back-to-back homers to Lyle Overbay and Neil...

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Guthrie talks about OD start, Pirates lineup

March 24, 2011, 2:51pm

Orioles

Guthrie talks about OD start, Pirates lineup

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jeremy Guthrie will start the Orioles' regular-season opener for the third time in four years, an assignment that he calls "a big honor." "I think it's a manifestation of the confidence that Buck (Showalter) and the coaching staff have in me," he said. "I'm pleased to be out there. It's a great feeling to be out there with your team on the first game of the season, being out there battling and trying to start the season off on a good note. I'll be very excited to...

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Showalter on a variety of topics

March 24, 2011, 1:23pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pat Egan, claimed by the Brewers in the Rule 5 draft and returned to the Orioles today, will work out here and possibly pitch in a game. However, he's not part of the official camp roster and eventually will be sent to Triple-A Norfolk. Egan doesn't have to be included on the 40-man roster. "He'll be here in a day or two," manager Buck Showalter said. "He's going to be available to pitch. He's going to have a locker and a uniform and he'll be a just-in-case type...

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Rosario, Egan trade places, Duchscherer pushed to April 21

March 24, 2011, 12:41pm

Orioles

Rosario, Egan trade places, Duchscherer pushed to April 21

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manager Buck Showalter just buried reporters with news during batting practice. It won't all fit into the headline on this blog entry. Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario cleared waivers and returned to the Brewers. Pat Egan cleared waivers and returned to the Orioles. Egan worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings and recorded two saves this spring. Justin Duchscherer is projected to make his debut on April 21, which requires a stop on the disabled list. The Orioles will begin the season...

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Rosario expected to be cut, Bell speaks

March 24, 2011, 11:28am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Rule 5 pick Adrian Rosario is expected to be included in today's cuts. He'll be placed on waivers, and another team can put in a claim and attempt to keep him on the major league roster. If Rosario clears as expected, the Orioles must offer him back to the Brewers for $25,000 or work out a trade. Rosario has a live arm, but he's raw. He allowed two runs and three hits, walked three batters and struck out one in two innings. Rosario's lone decision came in a loss to the...

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Bell cut; O's lineup vs. Pirates for Thursday (updated)

March 24, 2011, 10:56am

Orioles

Bell cut; O's lineup vs. Pirates for Thursday (updated)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Josh Bell is included in today's cuts. He's been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk and told he'll play third base every day. Left-hander Zach Britton hasn't been called into the manager's office and is expected to make another start here. Here's the Orioles' lineup for tonight's 7:05 p.m. game against Pittsburgh: Brian Roberts 2B Nick Markakis RF Derrek Lee 1B Vladimir Guerrero DH Luke Scott LF Felix Pie CF Mark Reynolds 3B Matt Wieters C J.J.Hardy SS Jake Arrieta...

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Roster cuts coming today

March 24, 2011, 5:23am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles will play their second consecutive night game, but they won't do any traveling. The Pirates are coming to Sarasota. I made it back to my hotel from Fort Myers around midnight, so I had no problem staying in bed a little longer this morning. Jake Arrieta will start for the Orioles. He's allowed six runs and 12 hits, with two walks and eight strikeouts, in his last two outings covering 8 1/3 innings. He's posted a 5.40 ERA in 13 1/3 innings this spring, allowing...

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Machado debuts in 5-2 loss

March 23, 2011, 6:29pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The ninth inning took on special meaning tonight because shortstop Manny Machado stepped to the plate against Twins reliever Chuck James. Of course, it happened while reporters were racing down from the press box to the seats beside the Orioles' dugout. Machado grounded to short in the Orioles' 5-2 loss at Hammond Stadium. Nervous? "No, not really," he said. "I was just a little too patient." Machado, the third overall pick in last June's draft, didn't know he...

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Matusz finds silver lining in bullpen (with two notes)

March 23, 2011, 5:05pm

Orioles

Matusz finds silver lining in bullpen (with two notes)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - It wasn't until left-hander Brian Matusz returned to the bullpen to continue throwing that he salvaged part of his night. Matusz recorded only four outs and allowed four runs and four hits, with three walks and no strikeouts. He threw 56 pitches, but the most important ones came afterward. That's when Matusz says he found the rhythm that abandoned him while the Twins were teeing off and home plate kept moving on him. "From the get-go, warming up, I couldn't find my...

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Matusz makes early exit, Jones homers

March 23, 2011, 4:09pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - It was hardly worth the drive over here. Left-hander Brian Matusz recorded only four outs tonight and was charged with four runs and five hits, with three walks and no strikeouts. The Twins lead, 4-1, in the third inning. Manager Buck Showalter summoned left-hander Alberto Castillo after Joe Mauer's two-run single, which came on Matusz's 56th pitch. The ball slammed off the left-center field fence, but Tsuyoshi Nishioka inexplicably stopped at second base. Matusz went to...

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Long first inning for Matusz

March 23, 2011, 3:40pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Good thing the Orioles relaxed their facial-hair policy, or half the team would be in violation right now. The Twins forced Brian Matusz to throw 34 pitches in the first inning, 18 for strikes. Matusz had four full counts, walked two batters, gave up a hit and fell behind, 1-0. Denard Span walked and stole second base without a throw. Tsuyoshi Nishioka laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Span scored on Joe Mauer's sharp grounder down the third base line. Mark Reynolds made a...

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Showalter speaks

March 23, 2011, 2:37pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Since manager Buck Showalter is all about finding nuggets, I wanted to pass along a few from today's pre-game media session. On Brian Roberts making the trip: "We were going to wait until after (yesterday's) game was over. Robby and I talked about 6 o'clock last night at the stadium. He wanted to get some right-handed at-bats, Obviously, (Francisco) Liriano presents that. It was probably more his idea than mine. I think it's a great idea." On the number of cuts that...

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Quick updates

March 23, 2011, 2:01pm

Orioles

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Justin Duchscherer threw the first part of today's bullpen session on a half mound and the rest on a full mound. Manager Buck Showalter said Duchscherer felt "really good," and the club will have a more definite plan for him tomorrow. Koji Uehara will pitch in a Triple-A game on Friday. Showalter still believes that Uehara will be ready for the April 1 opener against the Rays. Brendan Harris will be sidelined one or two more days after having a mole removed from his...

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Gregg tweaks mechanics again, Machado here

March 23, 2011, 1:01pm

Orioles

Gregg tweaks mechanics again, Machado here

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Kevin Gregg stayed back in camp today after pitching yesterday in a minor league game at Twin Lakes Park. Gregg faced five batters yesterday, allowing two hits, striking out two and hitting a batter. He threw 23 pitches, 16 for strikes. Gregg made an adjustment in his mechanics earlier in camp, leaning forward as he delivered the ball rather than staying back. He wasn't happy with the results - he gave up eight earned runs (nine total) in two appearances over 1 1/3 innings...